hi
i am new to this forum. i currently am in remission from being diagnosed with aml in aug. of 2009. went thru extensive chemo and bmb. doctor said i am in remission now. what are the chances of relaps? is it true that aml is not cured without a bmt? a friend of mine told me that relaps is a definate it is time will tell. do i go on feeling normal with this in the back of my mind until it happens again? do most people relaps within 6 mo. or a year?
sorry so many questions, just concerned. if anyone out there can answer, please answer even if just few of my questions
thanks
ashley

trudy292

05-06-2010 07:22 AM

Re: remission aml

Ashley,

These are really all questions that you should ask your doctor. I had AML in July of 2004 and had a BMT in October of 2004. I am currently cancer free. The longer that you are post bone marrow transplant the better the numbers get. The first two years post transplant are the most intense with the highest rate of relapse. I do not know the numbers. When I asked my doctors and nurses this same question, I was told by my nurses that they could count on two hands the number of patients that had relapsed after a bone marrow transplant. I am now over 5years post transplant and I am still cancer free. I can tell you that so far the worry about relapse has not gone away. Every time I get a bruise, or a new sore -- I still keep track of how long it takes for it to go away.

I would definitely not listen to a friend when it comes to relapse of leukemia. Everyone's body is different! I also do not feel that a relapse is inevitable. I was given a 30% chance of being cancer free for the rest of my life with a bone marrow transplant, 10% without. So far - all is well!

Trudy

LMLMR

05-13-2010 02:49 PM

Re: remission aml

First off not everybody relapes in 6 months or a year. I have AML and been in remission for just over 3 yrs. Second you should not relate yourself to what others have. A lot of things must be taken into consideration, obviously the kind of leukemia you have, your age could be a factory, just to name a few.
How do you live with leukemia, my advice to you is to live like you have the world at your door step and you do. Think positive and don't go looking for the bad things.
Good luck and all the best to you in your recovery.